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Ruskin, John, 1819-1900

"The Ethics of the Dust"

And here is a column
built of columns and caps; the caps all truncated about half-way
to their points. And in both these last, the little crystals are
set anyhow, and build the large one in a disorderly way; but here
is a crystal made of columns and truncated caps, set in regular
terraces all the way up.
MARY. But are not these groups of crystals, rather than one
crystal?
L. What do you mean by a group, and what by one crystal?
DORA (audibly aside, to MARY, who is brought to pause). You know
you are never expected to answer, Mary.
L. I'm sure this is easy enough. What do you mean by a group of
people?
MARY. Three or four together, or a good many together, like the
caps in these crystals.
L. But when a great many persons get together they don't take the
shape of one person?
(MARY still at pause.)
ISABEL. No, because they can't; but you know the crystals can; so
why shouldn't they?
L. Well, they don't; that is to say, they don't always, nor even
often. Look here, Isabel.
ISABEL. What a nasty ugly thing!
L. I'm glad you think it so ugly. Yet it is made of beautiful
crystals; they are a little gray and cold in color, but most of
them are clear.
ISABEL. But they're in such horrid, horrid disorder!
L.


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